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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
I’ve just finished this fantastic book, and it made me cry like a little baby.
Beautifully written, this tells of the impact of race and masculinity on two brothers; one living, and one lost.
Michael and Francis are the sons of ambitious Trinidadian immigrants. We hear about their coming of age as they navigate growing up in The Park, an area of Scarborough, Toronto where the author grew up. Michael is a quiet young boy who spends his time in the library talking to Aisha, a smart young girl with dreams of getting out of The Park. Francis is different, he dreams of a future in music and spends his time with Jelly, a DJ who hangs in the same circles. We know from the beginning that Francis doesn’t make it to adulthood, and this short book explains why, what happened to him, and how Aisha, Michael, and the boys’ mother deal with the aftermath.
For such a short book it picks a mighty punch. TW: for racism, racist language, death, police brutality.
Beautifully written, this tells of the impact of race and masculinity on two brothers; one living, and one lost.
Michael and Francis are the sons of ambitious Trinidadian immigrants. We hear about their coming of age as they navigate growing up in The Park, an area of Scarborough, Toronto where the author grew up. Michael is a quiet young boy who spends his time in the library talking to Aisha, a smart young girl with dreams of getting out of The Park. Francis is different, he dreams of a future in music and spends his time with Jelly, a DJ who hangs in the same circles. We know from the beginning that Francis doesn’t make it to adulthood, and this short book explains why, what happened to him, and how Aisha, Michael, and the boys’ mother deal with the aftermath.
For such a short book it picks a mighty punch. TW: for racism, racist language, death, police brutality.
dark
emotional
slow-paced
But before all of this, he was the shoulder pressed against me bare and warm, that body always just a skin away.
She cupped his chin and touched the growing shadow of his moustache. She pinched his earlobe lightly between her thumb and finger as if it were a raindrop from a leaf.
Dust motes hung lazily in the air, and her eyelashes were touched blue by the sunlight pouring down. There was a strange play of image and light on the glass. I watched my own reflection mingle with the sight of her reading. A many limbed monster. And then something alarming happened: she saw me and smiled.
when Aisha suddenly met my eyes through the glass of the library, I felt a sudden vulnerability.
"It is a new day," she says firmly.
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Picked this up based on recommendations, but also because I reaaally dig the cover art, it's so pretty!
Now, this book touches upon relevant topics, such as masculinity, police brutality, the immigrant experience, grief, heritage, race, and many more. It's very slow paced, but quite short, so it's a fast read.
Despite being beautifully written, and very touching, in the end it didn't hit quite as hard as I expected it to, but I feel like that's on me. Still, there were moments that shook me, such as the knife incident with Francis, and that part where they go to Trinidad, and sleep next to each other on the floor.
Again, this was very beautifully written, and maybe I'll give it another go, when I'm in a different state of mind.
Oh and also, FUCK the police.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality